If the shoe fits, make it a designer one!

Homebase  |  Press release

Cash-strapped fashion conscious consumers have been heading to Homebase in their droves, prompting a rise in Louboutin-style scarlet red paint.

Home of Colour tester pot sales of socking red colours Flame and Show Stopper have shot up by 40% year-on-year this week, as customers have been looking to recreate their own Louboutins at a snip of the the price of the iconic red-soled designer shoes.

While many trendsetters such as Victoria Beckham, Coleen Rooney and Abbey Clancy have been stepping out in their favoured shoe, for many, with Louboutins averaging £600, the steep price tag is prompting people to try a bit of DIY fashion. And it seems that a pair of cheaper large soled shoes, some paint and a brush, is working the magic at many social events this summer.

Homebase store manager, Peter Rooney, at the London Acton branch comments, "While many people tend to look at magazines to get the right paint colour for walls, we have recently noticed a significant number of girls in the store colour matching the tester pots to pictures of designer shoes in fashion magazines and requesting tips on how to paint on leather or rubber."

If you are looking to get that DIY fashion look then Homebase has provided some handy tips to get you started. Richard Johnson, senior paint buyer at Homebase, has provided his advice for achieving the Louboutin look at home. He comments, "Clearly paint is meant for decorating walls rather than shoes, so we are amazed at this new trend that has hit our stores - the Home of Colour tester pots would have enough paint to cover the sole of an averaged sized shoe, but we would advise people to ensure they do apply it properly and it can achieve a really good visual effect."

Top tips for creating DIY Louboutins:

• Prime sole with a multi-purpose primer
• Paint with a gloss rather than an emulsion paint
• Use Homebase's Home of Colour 'Flame' or 'Show Stopper' paints for the best colour match
• Seal the colour with Homebase's Surface Sealer for a longer lasting finish
• Use a thin, small brush to keep the painting accurate and neat
• Don't forget to cover the rest of the shoe whilst painting to avoid unwanted marks on the main body of the shoe

-ENDS-

Notes to Editors:
For more information contact:
Liz Beswick, tel: 020 7654 4783 or email: liz.beswick@iris-worldwide.com
Homebase Press Office on 002 7922 8122 or email: homebase.pressoffice@iris-worldwide.com

About Homebase
Homebase is a leading home enhancement retailer selling over 38,000 products for the home and garden. It has more than 340 large, out-of-town stores throughout the UK and Republic of Ireland serving around 64 million customers a year, and a growing internet offering at www.homebase.co.uk
In the financial year to February 2012, Homebase's sales were £1.5 billion and it employed some 19,000 people across the business.

Homebase is part of Home Retail Group, the UK's leading home and general merchandise retailer.

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